Intense Degradation Research Articles

The Effect of Applying Treatment Sludge and Vermicompost to Soil on the Biodegradability of Poly(lactic acid) and Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate)

In this study, the biodegradability of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), the most widely produced bioplastic, and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), known for its very biodegradability, was investigated in soil and soil amended with nitrogen sources, such as treatment sludge and vermicompost. Biodegradability was evaluated over 180 days by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and analyzing samples with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). PLA showed a low biodegradation (6%) in soil, but this increased to 40% in soil amended with treatment sludge and 45% in soil amended with vermicompost. PHB completely degraded within 90 days in soil; however, this process extended to 120 days in soil amended with vermicompost and 150 days in soil amended with treatment sludge. The organic and microbial content of the amendments enhanced PLA biodegradation, while PHB degradation slowed after 50 days as microorganisms prioritized other organic matter. SEM and FTIR analyses after 60 days showed more intense degradation of both bioplastics in soil amended with vermicompost. These findings highlight the potential of treatment sludge and vermicompost for improving bioplastic degradation, contributing to sustainable waste management and soil enhancement.

Impact of artificial aging on the physical and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone under the combined effect of UV-radiation and elevated temperatures

ABSTRACT Annotation In this work the effect of long-term UV-radiation and temperature degradation on physical and mechanical properties of PCL was experimentally studied. Artificial aging of PCL at 30, 35 and 40°C and UV irradiation for 166, 360 and 554 h was carried out on a specially designed bench. Microstructure evaluation, spectroscopic studies and tensile tests were performed on aged specimens. On the surface of aged PCL there appear zones of irregular degradation with pronounced detachment of separate polymer fragments. Fragmentation occurs as a result of more intensive photodegradation and oxidative processes. According to the results of FTIR analysis, a strong effect on crystallinity is shown with two-factor exposure to PCL over time. At 30°C, with increasing UV degradation time, the crystallinity of PCL decreases by 7% in 504 hours. It was found that increasing the temperature during aging to 40°C leads to a more intense degradation of the crystalline phase of PCL and a decrease in crystallinity by 10% over the same period. Curves of changes in the mechanical properties of PCL versus aging time were obtained. The Young’s modulus is reduced by 20% from 326 to 252 MPa, the tensile strength is 2 times (from 16.1 to 8.5 MPa), and the relative elongation at break is 5 times compared to the initial PCL, from 528 to 103%. Based on physical observations of the properties of environmentally friendly biodegradable polymers, it is possible to provide controlled representations of their use for packaging and biomedical applications to replace petroleum-based plastics as a structural material.

Discharge and Gas Parameters Optimization for Toluene Degradation in a Perpendicular Magnetic Field‐Assisted Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor

ABSTRACTIn this study, we employed a nanosecond‐pulsed gear‐cylinder dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) assisted by a perpendicular magnetic field (MF) for toluene degradation. The effects of key discharge and gas parameters, as well as their optimal combinations with the perpendicular MF, on toluene degradation were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the maximum toluene degradation efficiency was achieved under conditions of short pulse rising times and widths, low gas flow velocities, and minimal oxygen concentrations. This optimal performance was attributed to three main factors: high mean electron energy, the generation of appropriate active oxygen species, and an extended residence time for plasma‐toluene molecule interactions. Furthermore, by meticulously adjusting the operational parameters, augmenting the number of magnetized energetic electrons in the perpendicular MF, and intensifying the ionization process, we observed a notable enhancement in both discharge intensity and toluene degradation efficiency.

The Periglacial Landforms and Estimated Subsurface Ice Distribution in the Northern Mid‐Latitude of Mars

AbstractSubsurface ice in the mid‐latitude regions is a significant water inventory on present‐day Mars, and their volume and distribution are thought to have varied due to the orbitally induced paleoclimatic changes. Using high‐resolution satellite images, the present study explores the distributions of three presumed periglacial landforms (thermal contraction polygons, fractured mounds, and brain terrains) that could provide evidence for the present‐day subsurface ice distribution in the northern mid‐latitude (30°–42°N). We identified the three periglacial landforms concentrated within the regions of 0°–40°E, 60°–100°E, and 160°–210°E in the latitude of >33°N. Their distributions are in agreement with the occurrence of fresh ice‐exposing craters and the estimated area of high annual water ice budget obtained by the general circulation model, reflecting the present‐day subsurface ice distribution. We further classified the thermal contraction polygons into five types based on their morphology, and investigated various distribution patterns for each type. Among them, high‐centered polygons are the most abundant type in the survey area, whereas low‐centered polygons are less prominent and observed only at >38°N. The large‐sized mixture polygons, which were only found in certain areas of 57°–92°E, are distributed in areas where the atmospheric model indicates that the highest annual water ice budget occurred during the past high‐obliquity period, but that the water ice budget has decreased during the present‐day low‐obliquity condition. These findings, along with insights from possible terrestrial analogs in the Arctic Archipelago and northern Canada, suggest that regions where large‐sized mixture polygons formed contained significant amounts of water ice in the past, but have undergone intense degradation over time.

THE ROLE OF DERMATOSONOGRAPHY IN EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INJECTABLE CONTOUR CORRECTION FOR THE UPPER FACE

Summary. Objective. Dermatosonographic assessment of the effectiveness of correcting involutional changes in the upper face using 30 % calcium hydroxyapatite injections. Materials and Methods. The study analyzed injection-based contour correction of the upper face in 21 female patients aged 35 to 42 years (mean age – 38.04). Forehead wrinkles were treated with fillers containing 30 % calcium hydroxyapatite and 70 % polymer gel (sodium carboxymethylcellulose, glycerol, water for injection). The procedure’s effectiveness was evaluated dermatosonographically one month after the procedure. Results. The patients’ epidermal thickness before the procedure averaged (0.305±0.032) mm (median 0.313 mm). One month after the procedure, the epidermal thickness significantly increased to (0.339±0.033) mm (median 0.353 mm). The most intensive filler degradation was observed in patients aged 37 to 39 years (35-50 % of the initial volume), while the least pronounced degradation was noted in patients aged 40 to 42 years (25% of the initial volume). Correlation analysis between age and filler degradation percentage did not reveal a significant relationship (p>0.05). Conclusion. The use of dermatosonography allows for the evaluation of the effectiveness of correcting involutional changes in the upper face using 30 % calcium hydroxyapatite injections and monitoring the degradation percentage of the filler.

Agricultural Expansion and Landscape Heterogeneity Explain Vegetation Degradation in Brazilian Atlantic Forest Landscapes

ABSTRACTSeveral anthropogenic activities in tropical forests, including deforestation and fragmentation, have led to intensive forest degradation. In fact, forest edges adjacent to anthropogenic land‐uses can be more exposed to abiotic changes and consequently lead to vegetation deterioration in forest interiors. However, there is still a lack of information on how temporal changes in land use can impact the vegetation degradation of tropical forests. Here, we investigate the influence of landscape context in explaining patterns of forest vegetation degradation over 35 years in two regions exhibiting different deforestation patterns in the threatened Atlantic Forest. Using the Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), we assessed forest degradation in the center of 50 forest remnants. In particular, we estimated these indices and landscape metrics in a time series from 1985 to 2020, at a 5‐year interval, based on MapBiomas land‐use classification and Landsat imagery. Then, we used generalized linear mixed models to assess the influence of landscape metrics over time on NDMI and EVI. Our results indicated that forest degradation was intensified according to the increase in agricultural cover, although sites inserted in more heterogeneous landscapes showed reduced degradation (i.e., an increase in NDMI and EVI). We also observed that forest remnants surrounded by greater agricultural cover showed a decline in NDMI, especially in the initial years of the time series. We therefore emphasize the importance of curbing the agricultural expansion to reduce the long‐term forest degradation in Atlantic Forest remnants and suggest long‐term monitoring of forest quality using vegetation spectral indices.

Efficient and Stable Deep-Blue 0D Copper-Based Halide TEA2Cu2I4 with Near-Unity Photoluminescence Quantum Yield for Light-Emitting Diodes.

Achieving deep-blue light with high color saturation remains a critical challenge in the development of white light-emitting diode (LED) technology, necessitating luminescent materials that excel in efficiency, low toxicity, and stability. Here, we report the synthesis of [N(C2H5)4]2Cu2I4 (TEA2Cu2I4) single crystals (SCs), which exhibit deep-blue photoluminescence (PL) at 450 nm. These crystals are characterized by a significant Stokes shift of 180 nm, a long lifetime of 1.7 μs, and an impressive photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 96.7% for SCs and 87.2% for polycrystalline films. The zero-dimensional structure is attributed to the proper spacing of triangular inorganic units [Cu2I4]2- by organic cations [N(C2H5)4]+. This structural arrangement facilitates broadband deep-blue light emission with phosphorescent characteristics, as evidenced by temperature-dependent PL and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements. The band gap properties of TEA2Cu2I4 were further elucidated through density functional theory (DFT) computations. Notably, the material exhibited minimal PL intensity degradation after continuous UV irradiation and one month of exposure to ambient conditions. Moreover, the polycrystalline film of TEA2Cu2I4 maintained substantial deep-blue emission even after one year of storage. Utilizing TEA2Cu2I4 thin film, we fabricated an electroluminescent device emitting deep-blue light with high color saturation, featuring CIE coordinates (0.143, 0.076) and a brightness of 90 cd/m2. The exceptional photophysical properties of TEA2Cu2I4 render it a highly promising candidate for optoelectronic applications.

Flare-aware cross-modal enhancement network for multi-spectral vehicle Re-identification

Flare-aware cross-modal enhancement network for multi-spectral vehicle Re-identification

An attempt to search for the common cellular mechanism of ovulation across all metazoans.

Ovulation, the female reproductive process whereby fertilizable oocytes are released from a mature ovarian follicle, is widely seen in all animals that sexually reproduce. This paper reveals that, despite the remarkably diverse styles of ovulation among animal taxa, most ovulate via follicle rupture and suggests that the rupture process may operate via similar cellular mechanisms across animals. Ovulation is the process by which a fertilizable oocyte is extruded from the interior of the follicle. Herein, we conducted a literature survey to explore the ovulation patterns of 11 sexually reproducing species belonging to 10 animal phyla. These results indicate a large variety of ovulation patterns. Further comparative biological and evolutionary considerations of these results led us to conclude that most female animals ovulate via follicle rupture. We propose that in all animals that ovulate by follicle rupture, two cellular events may be critically involved in the process: i) the disintegration of cell junctional systems leading to intracellular cytoskeleton rearrangement in the follicle cells and ii) the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins filled between follicle cells. These events may result in follicular cell deformation and increased motility, both of which are necessary for the formation of a path through which an oocyte escapes from the follicle. In addition to the requirement of ECM degradation for disintegrating cell junctions, intensive ECM protein degradation at the apical region of the follicle probably became increasingly important in late-evolving animals, such as vertebrates, in which a thick follicle wall containing a large abundance of ECM proteins is formed. We also considered hypothetical scenarios for the evolution of ovulation in these animals. Furthermore, this article discusses future problems that need to be solved for a more comprehensive understanding of ovulation in the animal kingdom.

The impact of visible light component bands on polyphenols from red grape seed extract powder encapsulated in alginate–whey protein matrix

Beads made of sodium alginate, whey protein concentrate, and red grape seed extract powder were exposed to white light and its red-orange, yellow-green-cyan, and cyan-blue-violet bands. The chemical analysis showed that encapsulation in the alginate-whey protein matrix protected polyphenols, flavonoids and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside when exposed to red-orange light. The reflectance spectra acquired from grape seed extract powder and grape seed extract beads were deconvoluted and anthocyanins-based moieties which contribute to the expression of bathochromic or hypsochromic effects were identified. The evolution of the peak areas assigned to the colored compounds confirms that the most intense polyphenol degradation occurred in grape seed extract powder and grape seed extract beads exposed to cyan-blue-violet light, as shown by the chemical analysis. The results of the study are important in choosing the light band from the visible spectrum which can be used to process food enriched with grape seed extract with minimal polyphenol degradation.

Effect of Grinding and Successive Sieving on the Distribution of Active Biological Compounds in the Obtained Fractions of Blackthorn Berries

The current study evaluated the effect of powder fractionation based on particle size on the chemical composition of macronutrients such as proteins and sugars, on the phytochemical properties (total content of polyphenolic compounds, vitamin C, and antioxidant activity), on preservation capacity (water activity), powder functional properties (water absorption capacity and water solubility index), and physicochemical properties (particle size distribution and moisture content) of blackthorn berry (Prunus spinosa) powders. The fruits were separated from the plant material and seeds, dried, and then ground using an universal mill for dry materials. Eight fractions were obtained after sieving on sieves with different mesh sizes, such as 1 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.630 mm, 0.450 mm, 0.315 mm, 0.200 mm, and 0.125 mm. The grinding/sieving procedure was effective in separating Prunus spinosa powder into sufficiently different size classes. The maximal moisture content and water activity were 5.61% and 0.250, respectively, showed good preservation from a microbiological point of view, and ensured the prevention of oxidation of biologically active compounds of blackthorn berry powders. For samples with reduced particle sizes, the powder functional properties were greatly improved. The total phenolic content, carbohydrates, and antioxidant activity showed significantly different values for some particle size classes compared to the un-sieved sample. A considerable content of vitamin C was presented in the fraction with large particle sizes, precisely because they did not undergo intense degradation processes. Therefore, the technique of grinding and successive sieving proved effective in enhancing the physicochemical and functional characteristics of powdered blackthorn berries, particularly for smaller particles.

13C-enriched carbonate precipitates reveal intense methanogenic oil degradation in the upper Wuerhe Formation, Northwest China

Abstract Microbial methanogenesis from crude oil is an important source of CH4 for gas reservoirs and atmospheric greenhouse gases. However, its petrological records have not been found in natural environments, and the geological conditions under which it may occur remain unclear. Here, we provide the first petrological evidence of Fe(III)-mediated methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation in a deep subsurface oil reservoir in Northwest China. The major findings are as follows: (1) highly positive δ13C values (up to +16‰) of secondary calcite attributed to methanogenesis; (2) paragenetic relation of high-δ13C calcite to biodegraded hydrocarbon; and (3) remarkably high FeO contents (up to 8 wt%) and heavy δ56Fe ratios (up to +0.52‰) in calcite, indicative of microbial Fe(III) reduction. Our study shows that methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation can occur in Fe(III)-reducing environments. This process transformed hydrocarbons into CO2 and CH4, where the former mostly precipitated as Fe-rich calcite (the carbon sink), while the latter, representing an estimated ~1968 Tg, might have escaped into the overburden and atmosphere from the Permian reservoir during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, which may have acted as an important CH4 source in changing global climate in the geological past.

Enhancement of sludge dewaterability using combined technology of bioleaching and Fenton: Microscopic structure and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of sludge particles

Bioleaching and Fenton technology are commonly used preconditioning techniques for sludge dewatering. This study compared the dewatering mechanisms of different conditioning technologies. The results showed that bound water, specific resistance to filtration (SRF), and capillary suction time decreased from 3.95g/g, 6.16×1012m/kg, and 130.6s to 3.15g/g, 2.81×1011m/kg, and 33s, respectively, under combined treatment condition. Moreover, the free radicals, including ·OH, O2-·and Fe (Ⅳ), further damaged the cell structure, thus increasing the concentration of DNA in the S-EPS layer. This intense degradation sludge particle size decreased by 15.6% and significantly increased zeta potential. Under the combined technology, the α-helix and β-sheet decreased by 42.2% and 56.5%, respectively, destabilizing the spatial structure of proteins and promoting the release of bound water. In addition, the combined technology decreased (Ala/Lys) ratio in the TB-EPS layer by 67.6%, indicating the weakening of protein water-holding capacity. Moreover, the conversion of oxygen-containing compounds to nonpolar hydrocarbons increased the hydrophobicity of the sludge under a combined treatment, thus enhancing dewatering performance.

Carbon footprints of tailings dams' disasters: A study in the Brumadinho region (Brazil)

Tailings dams' breaks are environmental disasters with direct and intense degradation of soil. This study analyzed the impacts of B1 tailings dam rupture occurred in the Ribeirão Ferro-Carvão watershed (Brumadinho, Brazil) in January 25, 2019. Soil organic carbon (SOC) approached environmental degradation. The analysis encompassed wetlands (high-SOC pools) located in the so-called Zones of Decreasing Destructive Capacity (DCZ5 to DCZ1) defined along the Ferro-Carvão's stream bed and banks after the disaster. Remote sensed water indices were extracted from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 satellite images spanning the 2017-2021 period and used to distinguish the wetlands from other land covers. The annual SOC was extracted from the MapBiomas repository inside and outside the DCZs in the same period, and assessed in the field in 2023. Before the dam collapse, the DCZs maintained stable levels of SOC, while afterwards they decreased substantially reaching minimum values in 2023. The reductions were abrupt: for example, in the DCZ3 the decrease was from 51.28 ton/ha in 2017 to 4.19 ton/ha in 2023. Besides, the SOC increased from DCZs located near to DCZs located farther from the dam site, a result attributed to differences in the percentages of clay and silt in the tailings, which also increased in the same direction. The Ferro-Carvão stream watershed as whole also experienced a slight reduction in the average SOC levels after the dam collapse, from nearly 43 ton/ha in 2017 to 38 ton/ha in 2021. This result was attributed to land use changes related with the management of tailings, namely opening of accesses to remove them from the stream valley, creation of spaces for temporary deposits, among others. Overall, the study highlighted the footprints of tailings dams' accidents on SOC, which affect not only the areas impacted with the mudflow but systemically the surrounding watersheds. This is noteworthy.

Can we identify tipping points of resilience loss in Mediterranean rangelands under increased summer drought?

Mediterranean ecosystems are predicted to undergo longer and more intense summer droughts. The mechanisms underlying the response of herbaceous communities to such drier environments should be investigated to identify the resilience thresholds of Mediterranean rangelands. A 5-year experiment was conducted in deep and shallow soil rangelands of southern France. A rainout shelter for 75 days in summer imposed drier and warmer conditions. Total soil water content was measured monthly to model available daily soil water. Aboveground net primary production (ANPP), forage quality, and the proportion of graminoids in ANPP were measured in spring and autumn. Plant senescence and plant cover were assessed in summer and spring, respectively. The experimental years were among the driest ever recorded at the site. Therefore, manipulated summer droughts were drier than long-term ambient conditions. Interactions between treatment, community type, and experimental year were found for most variables. In shallow soil communities, spring plant cover decreased markedly with time. This legacy effect, driven by summer plant mortality and the loss of perennial graminoids, led to an abrupt loss of resilience when the extreme water stress index exceeded 37 mm 10 day-1, characterized by a reduction of spring plant cover below 50% and a decreased ANPP in rainy years. Conversely, the ANPP of deep soil communities remained unaffected by increased summer drought, although the presence of graminoids increased and forage nutritive value decreased. This study highlights the role of the soil water reserve of Mediterranean plant communities in modulating ecosystem responses to chronically intensified summer drought. Communities on deep soils were resilient, but communities on shallow soils showed a progressive, rapid, and intense degradation associated with a loss of resilience capacity. Notably, indexes of extreme stress were a better indicator of tipping points than indexes of integrated annual stress. Considering the role of soil water availability in other herbaceous ecosystems should improve the ability to predict the resilience of plant communities under climate change.

Improvement of methods of rational use in conditions of land degradation in the Almaty region, Karasai district

The study was aimed at identifying the potential of modern methods of rational land use in the Karasai district of the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, taking into account their intensive degradation. The research methodology was represented by the methods of statistical observation, comparison, analytical-structural grouping and forecasting. The priority goals of modernisation of agriculture of the Republic in the technological aspect have been analysed. It was established that innovative approaches to land use have the potential to increase the level of efficiency of the agrarian sector, improve the state of local and regional landscape. The concept of improving the state of degraded lands, including a system of management measures and practical activities, has been developed. It was proved that it should be based on the synergy of economic efficiency and environmental safety, with the mandatory introduction of modern innovative technological approaches. The effectiveness of methods of rational use of degraded lands as an effective tool for the transformation of the agrarian sector has been determined. It was proposed to intensify the development of organic agricultural production, which is positioned as the gentlest for degraded landscapes. It was proved that the implementation of sustainable management of landscape complexes in the innovative context implies the use of information monitoring technology, which anticipates the diagnosis, genesis and forecasting of the state of the studied ecosystems. Such measures will make it possible to develop programmes for the restoration of ecological functions of natural landscapes, which is an integral part of sustainable development programmes. Actualised the situation in the context of ecologisation of land use in Kazakhstan, predicted further destruction of ecosystems of agrarian landscapes in case of use of aggressive methods of soil cultivation. The necessity of introduction of improved methods of rational land use is substantiated, and the specificity of the introduction of organic and biological technologies of agricultural production is outlined, with an indication of tangential risks and challenges in the economic realities of Kazakhstan. The study substantiated that the application of integrated management and ecosystem approach have a synergistic potential to ensure the rational use of land in the Almaty region, the Karasai district in the conditions of their degradation

Irrigation-Initiated Changes in Physicochemical Properties of the Calcisols of the Northern Part of Fergana Valley

Agriculture in Central Asia and in the Fergana Valley in general strongly depends on irrigation and drainage of agricultural lands. The Fergana Valley includes about 45% of the irrigated area in the Syr Darya River basin. Active use of irrigation in agriculture can lead to changes in the soil’s natural composition, as well as pollution and changes in the soil’s physical and chemical properties. Soil degradation in the process of irrigation can lead to a decrease in crop yields and, as a consequence, to a decrease in food security in the region. In this study, a comparative analysis of three main types of Calcisols (Dark, Light, and Typical) before (uncultivated soil) and after agricultural use (surface-irrigated agricultural soil) was carried out. Irrigation leads to increment of SOC stocks in Typical (from 113.8 to 126.3 t/ha) and Light (from 62.8 to 100.1 t/ha) Calcisols and to decreasing of SOC stocks in Dark Calcisols (from 160.1 to 175.3 t/ha). In general, the content of biophilic elements (SOC and TN) is lower in irrigated soils, and their distribution in the soil profile is close to the functional relationship (r2 0.98 to 0.99). In uncultivated Calcisols, the profile distribution of SOC and TN is more heterogeneous (r2 0.67 to 0.97). Changes in the humification processes of soil organic matter are also identified; in soils after irrigation the carbon ratio of humic/fulvic acids (CHA/CFA) is lower (<1) compared to their uncultivated counterparts (~1). The alteration of the soil water regime also resulted in transformation of the individual compositions of amino acids. All studied types of Calcisols are characterized by changes in particle-size distribution of soils especially in the number of the silt fraction (0.01–0.05 mm) and the difference between uncultivated and irrigated soils, 10–20%, which is associated with the processes of colmatage by accumulation of a fine fraction and replacement of sub-fractions in the fraction of sand. The highest concentrations of nutrients are characteristic of the upper soil horizons (P up to 231, K up to 2350 mg/kg), which indicate their pedogenic and agrogenic origins rather than inheritance from the parent material. Soil P and K availability is rather high, with non-labile forms prevailing, although of near reserve. The surface irrigation results in apparent accumulation of water-soluble Mg2+ (1.6–2.1 meq/100 g) and K+ (0.6–0.9 meq/100 g), but the cation of Ca2+ predominates in the base cations’ composition, which is the most favorable in terms of soil agrogenic property formation. Data obtained will be useful for development of strategies for effective land use in arid, subtropical, overpopulated regions of Central Asia that have deficient water sources and intensive soil degradation.

THE GROWTH OF ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION IN THE COASTAL PROTECTIVE STRIPS OF THE STRYI RIVER BASIN

Currently, there is of today, there is practically no information about the current state and land use of coastal protection strips (CPS) and water protection zones in the Stryi river basin. This creates many misunderstandings and abuses during their use and leads to intensive degradation of the ecosystem of both this and other rivers of the Dniester basin into which it flows. Using the Google Earth Pro program, an assessment of the CPS structure in the Stryi River basin was carried out by comparing space images for the past 14 years. The analysis showed that illegal construction within the CPS of the river began after 2009, which creates the danger of possible inundation during floods and the development of erosion processes. This is also a threat to the hydroecosystem of the Stryi River, due to the settlement load on the floodplain, as well as non-compliance with sanitary standards and clogging with household waste.

WASTE MANAGEMENT USING LEAN-GREEN APPROACH: A CASE STUDY IN A FURNITURE COMPANY

Introduction: Wooden furniture is one of Indonesia's superior products, with a low-efficiency level. However, the wooden furniture industry is often associated with intense environmental degradation and high levels of waste. In anticipating waste, a green manufacturing model proposed is Lean-Green manufacturing. This current study aims to explore the implementation of the Lean-Green model in a furniture company's waste processing system and assess the effectiveness of Lean-Green implementation. Methods: The research methodology was qualitative with the Lean-Green scoring method implemented in the supply chain of Company S. Data were collected through interviews and field observations. Results: Company S had a low score, meaning that the interaction between the Lean and Green approaches in the waste processing of the supply chain was not optimal. The Lean-Green implementation in the wooden furniture industry was effective in evaluating waste processing in the supply chain. The research findings urge the initiatives to improve the understanding and implementation of the Lean-Green concept. Conclusion and suggestion: The evaluation of the Lean-Green implementation helps the company’s manager improve the supply chain with sustainable measures.

Influence of Forest-Pasture Conversion on the Erodibility of a Dystrophic Red Yellow Latosol with Different Deforestation Temporalities in the Southwestern Amazon

The objective was to evaluate the erodibility of a Dystrophic Red Yellow Latosol from the Mutum Paraná River sub-basin to understand the influence of forest conversion and different pasture temporalities on its physical structure and the potential for sediment release after surface samples undisturbed were subjected to the Inderbitzen experiment. Tests of Mechanical Resistance to penetration and physical parameters under forest and pasture conditions were carried out. A simulation of surface runoff by water spraying (Inderbitzen) was carried out to analyze the disaggregation and transportability of particles. The erodibility equation (K factor) was applied, and the Limits of Consistency were defined to measure the Plasticity Index of the soil that qualifies its erodibility. The pasture samples submitted to the experiment indicated soils of low susceptibility to erosion, even under conditions of maximum slope of the area (17°) and under intense simulated flow (3 L and 6 L min-1) of sprinkler, not showing large losses of sediments or intense surface degradation. There was a relation between soil physical properties and the response of the sample in the experiment. Samples with higher total porosity (r = 0,89) and lower apparent densities (r = -0,88) showed higher disaggregation. There was a significant correlation between the simulated samples that showed lower sediment losses, with a higher percentage of clay (r = -0,65). Samples with a higher percentage of total sand indicated higher percentages of disaggregation (r = 0,68). Erodibility data obtained by the K-factor equation and Plasticity Index endorsed the low soil erodibility